Club Brugge recorded a big 4-1 win against KV Mechelen on the final day of play in the regular competition. Tresoldi gave Blauw-Zwart an early lead, while Kyriani Sabbe's two goals seemed to decide the game before halftime. Raman scored after the break, but Mechele took care of the 4-1 final score.
Bruges' starting lineup underwent two changes compared to the team that won at Westerlo last week. Hans Vanaken had not recovered sufficiently from his hip injury and was replaced by Hugo Vetlesen. Brandon Mechele was fit again and took his starting place at the expense of Spileers. The absence of captain Vanaken allowed Simon Mignolet to don the captain's armband.
KV Mechelen had qualified for the Champions' Playoffs for the first time ever last week and still seemed to be in a celebratory mood. Indeed, Club was able to open the scoring on the very first attack: after a cross from Seys, Tresoldi tapped in the 1-0 after just over a minute of play. Malinwa reacted with a header from Raman, but otherwise Club was already beating the clock: a shot from Onyedika was blocked, a header from Mechele flew over goal and Tresoldi just couldn't reach a cross from the right.
Blue-Black was clearly in control and was able to double its lead midway through the first half. Vetlesen served Kyriani Sabbe with a subtle touch and he popped the 2-0 into the far corner. Moments later, Miras saved a shot by Tzolis and Konaté was able to clear a cross from the Greek just in front of Tresoldi. Not much later it was 3-0: Tzolis returned a corner kick to Sabbe, who pecked the ball into the goal via Halhal's foot. At the end of the first half Miras had a great reflex on an attempt by Tresoldi, while a free kick by Tzolis went over the goal.
After the break the first danger came again from Club Brugge, but Vetlesen's shot went wide. Mignolet had yet to grab a ball, but had to concede after ten minutes in the second half: after a counter Benito Raman kicked the 3-1 across.
The Bruges fans were not impressed and immediately went in search of a fourth goal. Miras saved the tries of Tzolis and Onyedika, while Forbs also failed to score twice. The deserved 4-1 finally fell twenty minutes before time when Mechele headed in a corner kick from Tzolis.
In the closing stages Club tried to score a fifth time. The newly-installed Vermant tried from outside the box, but his shot went just wide via Miras' hand. Moments later, a shot by Diakhon was blocked and an attempt by Nilsson flew wide. The final chord was for Vermant, who headed a Siquet cross wide. A smooth victory for Club Brugge, which will start the Champions' Playoffs in two weeks with a 1-point deficit on Union.
Jupiler Pro League - Match day 30
Spectators: 27,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lawrence Visser
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (86' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković, Raphael Onyedika, Hugo Vetlesen (75' Romeo Vermant) - Carlos Forbs (81' Shandre Campbell), Nicolò Tresoldi (86' Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis (81' Mamadou Diakhon). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Ludovit Reis, Cisse Sandra and Jorne Spileers. Coach: Ivan Leko.
KV Mechelen: Nacho Miras - Mory Konaté, Tommy St.Jago, Redouane Halhal (54' Bill Antonio) - Therence Koudou, Dikeni Salifou, Kerim Mrabti, José Marsà - Bilal Bafdili (69' Keano Vanrafelghem), Benito Raman (69' Hassane Bandé), Myron van Brederode. Coach: Frederik Vanderbiest.
Yellow cards: Halhal.
Red cards: none
Goals: 2' Tresoldi (1-0), 22' Sabbe (2-0), 37' Sabbe (3-0), 55' Raman (3-1), 71' Mechele (4-1).